coffee shop - l.r.h

five

Soon enough, the feelings disappeared along with my ability to stay awake.

Waking up, I found my self still in Michael's embrace. He was warm, and his breathing quiet. Michael's body was limp, his seemingly lifeless arm draped across my torso. I could feel his heart beating on my back at a steady pace. I remained close to him for a moment, then carefully began to disentangle myself from his grasp.

I shuffled to the closet, taking the quietest attempt to remove the clothes from the hangers. I had made the decision to wear nicer clothes than usual, along with giving more care to how my appearance was overall. Clothes in hand, I continued to the bathroom and closed the door behind me. After changing I reopened the door and proceeded to get ready.

Eventually, there were footsteps pattering across the wooden floors. Stepping one foot out of the doorway, I saw Michael heading over to the kitchen, which lay directly next to the bathroom I was in. He gripped the handle of the refrigerator and pulled it towards him, his eyes lingering over its interior. He grabbed a water bottle, and then sat down on the stools that reached the island.

"Oh don't worry, make yourself at home!" I smiled.

Michael took a swig of the water and looked in my direction, nodding in reply. I rolled my eyes, stepping back into the bathroom and returning to what I had been doing.

For a moment there was silence, then the stool in which Michael was on squeaked and turned to face me.

"Hey Ivy?" Michael raised his voice assuring I heard.

"Yeah Mikey?" I answered, not hesitating from what I was doing.

"Where are you going?" He asked, although his tone suggested he already knew.

"The coffee shop."

"You don't usually put effort into going there." He said curiously.

"I can look decent if I decide to look decent, Michael."

"I know," He uttered. "But am I allowed to ask why?"

"I felt like it." I replied assertively.

"Okay." He mumbled under his breath. "At least it's not for Luke."

My face heated a little and I watched as my cheeks turn a light shade of pink in the mirror.

"What does Luke have to do with anything?" I questioned, pressing my hands to the granite and turning my head to Michael.

"You have a thing for him." He said blankly, but then followed it with a chuckle.

"I hardly know him, Michael." I stated firmly.

"Doesn't matter." He smirked.

"It kind of does."

"Not really." Michael spoke nonchalantly.

I groaned in annoyance and made eye contact with him.

"I'm going with my co-worker."

Michael furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Kait?" I replied, hoping he'd remember.

He recalled immediately and nodded, turning his eyes to the table.